* AKPF man sees nice time to revenge
Signs that Governor Godswill Akpabio’s desire to install his preferred successor will hit the rocks are beginning to emanate. This follows the hit and shocker he received from the former Deputy Chairman of the State PDP, Bishop Samuel Akpan; the AKPF strongman and Hon. OKpolupm Etteh the member representing Esit Eket/Ibeno State Constituency and the leader of the 5th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
In a meeting held two Fridays ago, at the Governor’s Lodge along Wellington Bassey Way End, Governor Akpabio had told the two men to step down from the race apparently to enable him present the Secretary to State Government, Udom Emmanuel as the aspirant from Eket Federal Constituency.
Bishop Samuel Akpan and Hon. Okpolupm Etteh hit back at Governor Akpabio and openly told him that they were not going to resign or step down for anybody whatsoever. The duo are said to have informed the Governor that they have all it takes to win the election and emerge Governor of the State by 2015 and so the Governor should encourage them by voting money into their camps and not threatening or attempting to cow them into withdrawal. The duo are said to have talked very tough and had even told Akpabio to go to hell.
Bishop Akpan and Okpolukpm Etteh also informed Akpabio that they cannot disappoint their supporters at this point in time by deciding not to run. The duo angrily told Akpabio that they will contest and if they fail, they fail at the field.
In attendance at the meeting were Emmanuel Ibiok who then was still being considered as an SA, Emmanuel Akpan who represents Essien Udim at the House of Assembly, Okpolupm Etteh’s strongman and PDP State Secretary Ibanga Akpabio, Udo Ibanga Esu, Prince Akpabio and Sir Emem Akpabio referred always as the godfather.
When Bishop Akpan and Okpolukpm Etteh made their positions known, those in attendance were shocked. THE INK gathered that the duo were visibly angry when the Governor placed the proposal before them and were short of walking out on the Governor in the meeting.
Governor Akpabio himself is said to have been very sad and sober when the reality of the fact that Etteh and Akpan are ready to fight to finish dawned on him. Going by the way things stand, Governor Akpabio may at the end of the proceedings, blame himself for having joined forces with Obong Umana Okon Umana to fight Bishop Akpan then.
Bishop Akpan’s team however is of the opinion that this is the right time to take vengeance on Akpabio. Those in solidarity with Bishop Akpan are of the view that Akpabio cannot have his way against the AKPF strongman the third time. They argue that it will amount to cowardice and timidity if Bishop Akpan heeds to Akpabio’s advice of pulling out of the race. It would be recalled that at the peak of Bishop Akpan’s political strength, when he was the leading candidate for Eket Senatorial District seat in 2011 ahead of the likes of Senator Helen Esuene and Senator Eme Ekaette who was gunning for a second term, Akpabio had pressurized Akpan to step down for Senator Helen Esuene.
One of the words Akpabio is said to have used to convince Akpan against running the 2011 Senate race was “Bishop, do you want me to have problems with Obasanjo?”
To prove his loyalty and love to Governor Akpabio, Bishop Samuel Akpan one day in his country home announced to his mammoth supporters that he has after wider consultations, stepped down from the Senate race. He thereafter directed all his supporters to queue behind Mrs. Helen Esuene. A source in the PDP told our reporter that Bishop Akpan was not appreciated by the Governor for such degree of loyalty. Our source maintained that what Bishop Akpan however got from Akpabio was backlash, harassment and betrayals. The source added that Akpabio choosed to join forces with his then all powerful SSG, Obong Umana Umana to intimidate and blackmail Bishop Akpan out of relevance in the politics of Akwa Ibom State.
Proponents of Bishop Akpan for Governor in 2015 are of the opinion that Akpabio is so shameless to have gone back and ask their benefactor to step down. “He can’t use us again this time”; a strong PDP member from Ikot Ekpene who is Bishop Akpan’s diehard fan said.
Meanwhile Governor Godswill Akpabio may have to double up efforts if he has to enjoy the camaraderie of the State House of Assembly after his burst up with the leader of the 5th Assembly. Although there are no impeachment moves yet against the Governor, some House members sympathetic to Etteh are said to be considering thwarting some issues from the executive.
One of the lawmakers from Eket Senatorial District informed THE INK that the leader (referring to Okpolupm Etteh) has detailed them of the outcome of the meeting with the Governor. The lawmaker while expressing deep anger on Akpabio’s proposal to Okpolupm Etteh to step down from the 2015 race hinted that it is now time to take on Akpabio and his men. The source maintained that Akpabio has bitten off more than he can chew and his bills which will pass through legislative processes will be thoroughly vetted.
The member for Essien Udim State Constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Akpan has however expressed sadness over the backlash that was given to Akpabio by Etteh and Akpan, on reasons that the influence yielded by Etteh, the House Leader may make the last year and few months of the Governor’s leadership miserable.
Meanwhile, the Governor who is aware of this is said to have resolved to send emissaries to Etteh and the leadership of the House of Assembly. Reasons behind Akpabio asking Etteh and Akpan to pull out from the race, THE INK gathered is a follow-up to the instructions he earlier gave to PDP chapter chairmen that they should go to the three federal constituencies of Eket Senatorial District and bring out three persons with one representing each of the federal constituencies.
While the search for these persons continued, Akpabio is said to have been informed that Eket Federal Constituency will be a hard nut to crack as Bishop Akpan and Okpolukpm Etteh are political giants of their own right and will not condone stepping down for Emmanuel Udom or any other person from the federal constituency. The Governor who is alleged to be throwing up his new SSG, Udom Emmanuel as his successor is set to have been detailed by some party chairmen and his foot soldiers that the possibility of getting a consensus candidate from Eket Federal Constituency is not feasible especially as Bishop Akpan and Okpolukpm Etteh have taken their campaigns far.
Akpabio who is said to have promised to do something about it was however advised to take urgent measures or fail woefully in his succession plans. But Akpabio’s attempt to convince Bishop Akpan and Okpolupm Etteh to step down however appears to be the real beginning of trouble for the Governor.
Okpolupm Etteh declares
It could be recalled that on Tuesday 17th September, 2013, the leader of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Rt. (Hon.) Okpolupm Etteh at about 9:00am declared his ambition to contest the 2015 governorship election of the State to his colleagues of the House of Assembly.
In a brief ceremony that took place in his office, the AKHA leader, Okpolupm Etteh is said to have informed his colleagues that he had to officially inform them of his intent to govern Akwa Ibom State so that when they hear it outside, they won’t get offended with him.
The leader of the 5th Assembly is said to have promised to carry his colleagues from the Assembly along when he emerges Governor of the State. He solicited their support in every possible way and charged them to take the message of his declaration to their different state constituencies.
Members who registered their earliest presence and pledged to ensure that they do all they can to support Hon Okpolupm Etteh to succeed Governor Akpabio come 2015 were Nsikak Ekong of Ikot Ekpene State Constituency, Jerome Isangedighe of Oron/Udung Uko State Constituency, Anietie Etuk of Nsit Ibom State Constituency, Friday Iwok of Abak State Constituency. Others are said to have joined the leader in his office in solidarity before the sitting on Tuesday, 17th September, 2013 began. But the aforementioned are said to be the ones to lead the AKHA leader’s governorship bid in the Assembly.
Meanwhile, competent Assembly sources have confided in our reporter that Okpolupm Etteh’s declaration has sparked off an air of animosity in the House of Assembly. Our reporter gathered that the Speaker, Sam Ikon was not comfortable with the declaration as he (Sam Ikon) is said to have always viewed the House Leader’s quest to the Hiltop mansion as a joke.
An Assemblyman from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District said the House is divided following that exercise of Okpolupm’s declaration but that maturity is what is keeping members on a silent note.
When contacted, one of the Speaker’s Aides said, “Da, ibonodo eyem mfana”. THE INK gathered from reliable sources that Speaker Ikon does not belief in the governorship ambition of the leader of the Assembly and he sees it as a dream that will crash with the efflux of time. This declaration of Okpolupm Etteh had given credit to earlier reports of this tabloid that Okpolupm Etteh is in partnership with Ibanga Akpabio, the State PDP secretary to emerge Akwa Ibom Governor by 2015. A report some self-acclaimed media experts to Okpolupm Etteh and Ibanga Akpabio had tried in vain to refute.
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